When Rekha Opened Up About The ONLY & Biggest Compliment Amitabh Bachchan Gave Her: 'He Gave Me...'

Rekha reflects on her legendary on-screen chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan, their iconic films, and how his style influenced her early performances.

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha's on-screen chemistry has long captivated audiences, especially through iconic films like Silsila. Their undeniable connection has sparked countless conversations, headlines, and Bollywood theories over the decades.

Source : IMDb

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha's on-screen chemistry has long captivated audiences, especially through iconic films like Silsila. Their undeniable connection has sparked countless conversations, headlines, and Bollywood theories over the decades.

Beyond Silsila, the legendary duo also shared the screen in classics such as Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Suhaag (1979), Do Anjaane (1976), and Ram Balram (1980). These films are celebrated as part of the golden era of Hindi cinema, with many now regarded as cult classics.

Rekha opens up about Amitabh Bachchan's biggest compliment

In a special interview with Rediff, commemorating her 25 years in the film industry, Rekha reflected on her career and shared deeply personal insights—including her thoughts on Amitabh Bachchan. When asked whether traces of Bachchan’s style were visible in her performances, Rekha responded with candid honesty.

"I don’t deny it," she said, recalling how a critic once pointed out her resemblance to Bachchan's style in Madam X. "I agreed with him," she added.

Rekha elaborated, saying, “Look, when we started working together, we were at a very impressionable stage. Each one left his or her impression on the other. If you saw a crowd in those days from a top angle, you just saw a whole sea of heads with the Amitabh hairstyle. I worked with him in 10 films at an early stage of my career, spanning over so many years. How can I not be influenced?”

She also spoke about the most meaningful compliment she received from the superstar. “I think the only compliment he has knowingly or unknowingly paid me was that he gave me an opportunity to work with a great co-star like him. That is the biggest compliment I have ever received,” Rekha said.

Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is married to actress and politician Jaya Bachchan, with whom he shares two children — actor Abhishek Bachchan and author Shweta Bachchan. Rekha was briefly married to industrialist Mukesh Agarwal in 1990; tragically, the marriage ended with his untimely death the following year.